Bali-Ngemba Forest Reserve (6119)
Cameroon, Africa
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2015
National site name: Bali-Ngemba Forest Reserve
Central coordinates: Latitude: 5.8167, Longitude: 10.0833
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 1350 to 2100
Area of KBA (km2): 8.98698
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Bali-Ngemba Forest Reserve is located in the valley of the Alatening stream, south-west of Bamenda. The vegetation comprises a continuous band of submontane and montane forest, much of it degraded to varying degrees. There are large Eucalyptus plantations between c.1,350–1,600 m which are exploited for timber and fuelwood. Above 1,600 m there is a patchwork of natural forests and farms. Although the understorey of the forest is much cleared for the growing of coco-yams, maize, plantains and potatoes, it retains a continuous canopy. Patches of intact forests are found mainly on the higher northern edge of the reserve. The reserve is completely surrounded and, except on the most inaccessible slopes, encroached by farmland, particularly for the cultivation of arabica coffee.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance because it meets one or more previously established criteria and thresholds for identifying sites of biodiversity importance (including Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas, Alliance for Zero Extinction sites, and Key Biodiversity Areas) KBA identified in the CEPF Ecosystem Profile of the Guinea Forests of West Africa Hotspot (2015). Taxonomy, nomenclature and threat status follow the 2013 IUCN Red List.
Additional biodiversity: See Box and Tables 2 and 3 for key species. To date, 185 species have been recorded. Tauraco bannermani is common above 1,800 m, but has been recorded down to 1,600 m and breeds in shade trees above cocoyam plantations. However, the relatively high density of T. bannermani may be due to immigration of birds displaced by forest clearance elsewhere. Platysteira laticincta and Malaconotus gladiator also occur and, as most of the forest lies between 1,400–1,800 m, the population of the latter may be healthy. Phylloscopus herberti has been recorded recently. Five species of the Sudan–Guinea Savanna biome (A04, Table 3) and 17 of the Guinea–Congo Forests biome (Table 3) also occur; the former include Dendropicos poecilolaemus, the only IBA in Cameroon from which it has, to date, been recorded. Non-bird biodiversity: Local reports indicate that Cercopithecus preussi (EN) may still survive, but probably not for long.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture | forestry | nature conservation and research | water management
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 20 | |
| Introduced Vegetation | 20 | |
| Grassland | 20 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 20 | |
| Forest | 20 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Bali-Ngemba is a production forest reserve, designated for commercial exploitation, and is hence poorly protected. Furthermore, most of the natural habitat is being cleared for farmland. Canopy cover is, however, kept as it is necessary for shade for cocoyam cultivation. There are several villages beside the reserve while the towns of Bamenda and Bali are close by; human pressure is therefore high. However, the remaining area of forest seems large enough to support the key species if conservation action is taken rapidly. The site also has high potential for ecotourism and educational activities. The Cameroon government agency for forestry development (ONADEF) has recently become involved in active management of the reserve, including the conservation of parts of it, and is promoting the reforestation of native trees along watercourses. A management plan for the reserve is being developed.
Additional information
References: Njabo and Languy (2000), Tetsekoua (2000).